Masala chips/Kenyan masala fries

Kenyan masala chips are french fries with a coating of spicy, tomato sauce. I enjoyed this dish when I lived in Kenya. This is a unique Kenyan dish that I have not come across anywhere else. In Nairobi we lived near a mall with a fast food joint called “Slush” where they serve lovely Indian-East African fusion dishes. We used to frequent that spot very often. They make hot masala chips on order and serve them hot as we wait patiently inhaling the aroma.

I took my children there whenever we go shopping. It was such a joy for the kids to pick up goopy, tomato-ey “chips” smothered in spice with their fingers and eat them while howling and giggling as the steam came off them! It is the favourite dish of our whole family especially our kids. This recipe is a good twist on Canadian poutine if you feel inclined to smother your fries with something spicy.

There are many fond memories of the past attached to Masala chips. This dish is stuck in our mind and we recollect and talk about it, including the incidents and places where we had it. I recreate it at home when I think of those pleasant days.

You can use frozen fries from a supermarket bag or make your own fries and coat them with masala. I have a recipe for homemade fries here (garlicky-oven-fries). In this recipe, I used frozen shoe string fries and baked them. Adding some chopped vegetables made it extra nutritious.

Ingredients:

• 500 grams frozen potato fries
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil+ some for baking
• 1 cup mixed vegetables (peas, mushroom, carrot, corn etc)
• 1 medium onion chopped
• 1 tbsp crushed garlic
• 1/2 cup crushed tomato
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 tbsp tomato ketchup
• 1 tsp chilli powder
• 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tbsp garam masala
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp chopped coriander leaves
• 1 /2 a lemon

1. Grease a baking tray with oil and spread fries in a single layer and spray oil on it.
2. Bake frozen fries in a preheated oven at 350° F for 25 minutes until it turns golden brown.
3. Heat vegetable oil in a pan and add chopped onion.
4. When onion turns translucent add crushed garlic and fry.
5. Add crushed tomato and stir till it cooks.
6. When oil starts separating add chilli powder, turmeric powder, garam masala, tomato paste, tomato ketchup, salt and mix well to heat it throughly.
7. Sprinkle some water to get a wet sauce.
8. Toss the baked fries in it and coat with the sauce mixture.
9. Squeeze lemon juice on masala chips and stir well.
10. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve steaming hot.

These fries tossed in a spicy sauce and finished off with tangy fresh lemon is finger-licking good. Masala fries are excellent with barbequed meat or anytime when you fell hungry. It can be an excellent evening snack too.

Spicy, saucy fries have an irresistible flavor and taste. Enjoy!

I am taking this to Fiesta Friday #68 as I love to join the big group of merrymakers there. This fries would spice up the party hosted by Angie and co-hosted by Justine and Jhuls this week.